Short communication, Note
Autumn or winter breeding of the Long-eared Owl Asio otus in Slavonia (Eastern Croatia)
Josip Ledinšćak
Dora Dvoržak
Abstract
On 6th January 2020, three juvenile Long-eared Owls Asio otus were observed in Gorjani, near the city of Đakovo in Eastern Croatia, in an old Hooded Crow Corvus corone cornix nest. With chicks estimated at 2-3 weeks of age, the courtship and nesting very likely started in early November or even late October 2019. Considering this unusually early (or late) date, it cannot be concluded whether this was an early winter breeding in 2020 or a late autumn breeding in 2019, which would make a very rare case of double brooding with this species. The year before, similar winter breeding of the Long-eared Owl was
recorded in February in the close vicinity of this location. Both breeding cases shared similar weather conditions in their early stage, with slightly to very warm temperatures and normal to extremely dry weather, compared to the long-term averages. Moreover, during autumn and early winter, snow cover was absent. However, one of the significant factors of successful breeding – the population of its favourite prey, the Common Vole – was unknown. Considering similar reports of winter breeding from other countries in the region, warm weather during autumn and winter might play important role in connection with this phenomenon. The breeding of Long-eared Owls during the autumn and winter periods in Croatia (and in general) might occur in even more cases than we think, but is probably overlooked.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
252952
URI
Publication date:
1.3.2021.
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